Rfid vehicle tag with manually adjustable data fields

ABSTRACT

An RFID tag for use in a vehicle for use in an electronic toll collecting system. The tag is capable of transmitting data to a tag interrogator indicating the occupancy status of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the tag has a user input and a visual and audible tag status indicator. The user input is used to change the occupancy status of the tag, wherein the occupancy status is a portion of a message sent by radio frequency to the interrogator when the vehicle passes through a toll area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This utility application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 ofnon-provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/685,101, filed on Nov.26, 2012 and of non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 12/533,067,filed on Jul. 31, 2009, both of which claim the benefit under 35 U.S.C.§119(e) of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/085,338 filed on Jul. 31,2008 and entitled RFID Vehicle Tag with Manually Adjustable Data Fields,the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to RFID transponder systems and moreparticularly to RFID transponders for use in electronic toll collectionsystems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In response to the inability of conventional toll collection means tomeet the demands created by increased highway traffic, automated tollfacilities that provide improved toll collection methods and systemshave been proposed and are being implemented. These electronic tollcollection systems eliminate the manual transactions of conventionaltoll collection means through the use of radio transmitters andreceivers that perform the necessary transactions as a vehicle travelsthrough the automated toll booth. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,224,291(Hassett), which is assigned to the same assignee as this invention,discloses a system for automatic collection of tolls includes anin-vehicle toll processor (e.g., an RFID transponder or tag) havingmemory for storing a toll-money-available quantity purchased by theuser, and a toll-facility-identification site that transmits atoll-facility-identifier signal indicating the identity of the upcomingtoll facility. As the vehicle approaches the identification site, thein-vehicle processor receives the identifier signal and calculates thetoll to be debited. When the vehicle passes through the toll facility,the in-vehicle processor transmits its identity, its net balance and thetoll, which it debits from an account balance. The in-vehicle processormay increment a low balance, in which case it transmits informationwhich is relayed to a central system for billing. Note that allreferences cited herein are incorporated by reference.

In some electronic toll collection applications, it would be desirableto vary the information transmitted by the RFID tag based on vehicleconditions. One example is a toll road with high occupancy toll(HOT/HOV) lanes. Highway administrations have created incentives fordrivers to carpool by assigning differing toll amounts to single personvehicles versus multiple person vehicles and by allowing multiple personvehicles in lanes reserved for such vehicles. Presently, there are notavailable RFID tags for automated toll collection that provide foradjusting the data message sent by the tag. Therefore a need exists fora vehicle RFID tag that allows the driver to manually change the datasent by the tag to the toll system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An RFID tag for installation in a vehicle for use in an electronic tollcollecting system. The tag 100 is capable of transmitting data to a taginterrogator 21 indicating the occupancy status of the vehicle. In anembodiment, the tag has a user input and a visual and audible tag statusindicator. The user input is used to change the occupancy status of thetag, wherein the occupancy status is a portion of a message sent byradio frequency to the interrogator when the vehicle passes through atoll area.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and theaccompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a block diagram of an embodiment of an RFID tag with manuallyadjustable data;

FIG. 2. is a flow diagram of occupant states of a vehicle RFID tag.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the concept of an RFID tag whose state can bechanged by the driver or vehicle occupant to indicate an occupancystatus. This is for use in High Occupancy Toll (HOT) systems where thetoll charged is different depending upon occupancy.

The prior art is a system where the tag is in place when occupancy issingle for example, so a toll is collected. When occupancy is more thanone the tag is removed, or disabled, so that the tag is not read and notoll is collected. Other prior art is a switched transponder where thetag is turned on and off, similar to removing or disabling the tag.

The invention is useful for at least two reasons. First, it allowselectronic toll collection with a vehicle tag that has more than twostates so that authorities can more finely manage occupancy, for examplethey can charge no toll for HOV-3; a reduced toll for HOV-2, full tollfor single occupant vehicles. Another aspect is that unlike currentsystems, which disable or turn off the tag for HOV's, in the inventivetag, the tag is not turned off, but its state is changed and a tag isread. This is helpful in implementation of enforcement systems as thereis always a one to one match between vehicles and transponders.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a vehicle tag 100, which includes aprocessor 10, RF electronics 20, an antenna 30, a manual input momentarycontact switch, 40 and a plurality of light emitting diodes, (LEDs) 50.One skilled in the art will understand the details of how the RFelectronics sends and receives information to and from a taginterrogator, typically located at toll areas and how the RF electronicsconverts the RF signal received from the interrogator to digital datafor the processor 10, and converts data from the processor 10 to an RFsignal. The processor 10 may be a microprocessor that executes a programor it may be a more simple collection of digital logic elements thatimplements a state machine. In any event, the processor encodesinformation unique to the tag such that when the vehicle passes the taginterrogator at the toll area, the tag interrogator receives this data,identifies the vehicle and uses this information for billing the tagholder for the cost of the toll. Systems for performing the taginterrogation and billing functions are known in the art.

The tag 100 includes a momentary contact switch 40 that is accessible bythe tag user. The switch 40 provides a user input to the processor thatallows the user to change the state of the tag, including theinformation that the tag sends to the tag interrogator at the toll area.

In an embodiment, the tag is in a single occupant state when power tothe tag is first applied. By pressing the switch 40, once, the tagconfirms its single occupant status by lighting one of the LEDs 50. Ifthe switch 40 is pressed a second time, within a short period of time,e.g. two seconds, the tag will go into two-occupant mode, and willdisplay this by momentarily lighting two of the LEDs 50. If the switch40 is pressed a third time, again within a short period of time from thesecond pressing, the tag will go into a three-or-more occupant mode, andsignal this with a momentary lighting of three of the LEDs 50.

In an embodiment, there are three possible states as discussed above. Afourth pressing of the switch 40, within a short period of time wouldreturn the tag to the single occupant mode. The flow of these threemodes is illustrated in FIG. 2, with single occupant mode 210, twooccupant mode 220 and three-or-more occupant mode, 230.

In an embodiment, the LEDs 50 only remain illuminated for a short periodof time after the user has set the occupancy level. Pressing the switch40 after the LEDs 50 have gone off will cause the LEDs 50 to indicatethe present occupancy state. Further presses of the switch 40 will causethe tag to advance to the next occupancy level, according to the chartin FIG. 2.

In a further embodiment, the LEDs also indicate other information aboutthe tag when the occupancy mode is not being set. For example, the LEDscan indicate whether the tag is valid or has sufficient funds associatedwith it when the vehicle passes through the toll area and receives thisinformation from the tag interrogator.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 also includes an audio output 60. Theaudio output tracks the indication of occupancy state as indicated bythe LEDs. When one LED is lit, the audio output makes a single beep orbuzz. When the state is two occupants, a double beep or buzz is made,and when the state is three-or-more occupants, three beeps or buzzes areactivated. This allows the driver to change status without looking atthe device. As is the case with the LEDs, the audio output 60 mayindicate other information when the tag is not being set to an occupancylevel. The audio output 60 may be a simple beeper or buzzer, or may be aspeaker that produces fully formed words where the processor is capableof producing such a signal.

The embodiment described above is not intended to limit the invention.For example, the momentary switch 40 can be a capacitive switch, or canbe a capacitive sensor that allows for finger position information to beread by the processor. Such a sensor would enable the user to set theoccupancy mode by moving a finger along the sensor. Such sensors arewell known in the art and implemented, for example in portable musicplayback devices. The input switch could also be a hall-effect device ormagnetic reed switch such that a magnet could be used to open and closethe switch. The input device could also be a photosensitive device suchas a photodiode or photocell such that a light input could be used toopen and close the switch. The user feedback mechanism is not limited toLEDs, but can also be Liquid Crystal Diodes, electro magnetic displaysand the like. The invention is not limited to three occupancy states orthree LEDS. For example, a fourth occupancy state would be a “bus” statefor vehicles capable of carrying more than 6 passengers. The inventionis not limited to the use of the ability to externally alter tag statesfor use in indicating vehicle occupancy status. For example, the tagstate may be altered to indicate the type of vehicle for which it isbeing used. Or the tag state may be altered to indicate states of avariable toll rate where the user may be charged differing rates basedon other factors such as how the toll fee is paid, how often the tag isused or whether the vehicle is being used for charitable or humanitarianpurposes. Instead of multiple LED's or other visual indicators, a singledevice can be used and instead of the number of illuminated devicessignaling a particular status, the single device is strobed on and off anumber of times to indicate tag status.

Embodiments of tags having the features of the invention include some orall of the following features: a tag capable of use in multipleprotocols, including Super eGo™, ATA and IAG modes; high speed, highperformance suitable for high occupancy toll (HOT) and trafficmanagement applications; tag operating status indicated by lightemitting diodes (LEDs) and audio buzzer; read and write capability inany of the protocol modes it is useable with; enhanced data securitywith advanced anti-spoofing and anti-counterfeiting techniques;partitioned data fields for fixed factory and agency data; impactresistant, molded plastic cases available in multiple colors;non-replaceable internal battery with a ten year design life, based ontypical usage; internal windshield mounting. Publications in the fieldof multiple protocol and multiple mode tags include: U.S. Pat. Nos.7,548,153 and 7,016,311; and U.S. Application Pub. nos. 2006/0267736 and2006/0109085. In the field of enhanced security features is U.S. Pat.No. 7,450,010.

Further embodiments include a high speed, high performance radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag suitable for electronic tollcollection and traffic management applications where driver feedback isspecified. The tag is a read write on-board-unit (“OBU”) that supportsadding and editing data to the OBU at high speeds in real time. EZGoAnywhere

Feedback OBUs are designed for high occupancy toll (HOT) applicationsand feature a push button that, when depressed, causes the OBU totransition from one operating state to another. LEDs, an audible buzzeror both will advise the driver of up to four statuses, for example,“single occupancy” vehicle, “double occupancy vehicle”, “bus”, etc. Innormal road tolling applications, the LEDs and buzzer are used fordriver feedback such as: valid tag; low balance; invalid tag andlost/stolen tag The eZGo Anywhere Feedback OBU enables advanced securitytechniques that ensure a tag's authenticity while preventing datacorruption and/or alteration. In addition, tag cloning, spoofing,copying, or duplicating is prevented. All eZGo Anywhere OBUs supportfactory programming of fixed data fields that are locked at the factoryand cannot be reprogrammed. Agency programmed fixed data fields canoptionally be locked by the agency after programming using passwordprotected programming equipment. eZGo Anywhere OBU cases are constructedof highly durable, impact resistant, molded plastic and are available inwhite, blue, orange, green, and yellow colors. Markings on the OBUassist patrons in the proper installation and orientation. Othermultiprotocol eZGo Anywhere OBUs include: Standard Waterproof, andExterior. The eZGo Anywhere Feedback OBU provides 3 light emittingdiodes (LEDs) and an audible buzzer. When used in high occupancy toll(HOT) applications, the A/V indicators provide driver feedback as to thenumber of occupants in the vehicle. When used in normal road tollingapplications, the A/V indicators provide driver feedback regardingaccount status.

We claim:
 1. A system for electronic toll collection comprising: a taginterrogator; and a tag comprising a manual user input, and an audibleor visual status indicator wherein said manual user input sets a stateof said tag, said tag interrogator reads said state and saidinterrogator performs an action based on said state of said tag andwherein said status indicator indicates said state upon said setting ofsaid state and further indicates information transmitted to said tag bysaid tag interrogator.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said actionrelates to a fee amount collected based on said state.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein said state is related to one of the group consisting ofvehicle occupancy, vehicle size and purpose of vehicle use.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said information includes either tag validityinformation or tag account balance information.
 5. A method ofcollecting vehicle information for a vehicle having an RFID tagcomprising: providing the tag with a manual user input and a feedbackindicator; setting a tag attribute with said manual user input;indicating with said feedback indicator said tag attribute state uponsaid setting; reading said tag attribute by a tag interrogator; andfurther indicating by said feedback indicator information received bythe tag from said tag interrogator.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinsaid information is from the group consisting of tag validity andaccount status.
 7. A system for electronic toll collection comprising: afirst tag interrogator operating in a first communication protocol; asecond tag interrogator operating in a second communication protocol;and a tag comprising a manual user input, wherein said manual user inputsets a communication protocol of said tag to said first or secondcommunication protocol, said first tag interrogator reads said tag ifsaid tag is set to said first communication protocol and said second taginterrogator reads said tag if said tag is set to said secondcommunication protocol.